Pipe line cradle



Jan. 8, 1952 'L, PERRAULT 4 2,581,971

PIPE LINE CRADLE Filed June 7, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

Z'ewid PM BY 8, 1952 v PERRAULT 2,581,971

' PIPE LINE CRADLE I I Filed June 7, 1948 I Y s Sheets-Sheet 2 a &

I I Z4 f l a r" INVENTOR, few/i4 Per/cult Jan. 8, 1952 L. PERRAULT 2,581,971

PIPE LINE CRADLE Filed June '7, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR'. Z'Od'ic @errault Patented Jan. 8, 1952 v easternv rmezpmn CRADLE-1 Lewis Perrault'; Tulsa; Okla: I Application J line-=7, 1948,-Scrial No: 31,557

i This:in '\lentior1:rel'ates to attraction drive:.b'elt'J forfipipez linetacradles; which; are? normallya'used for-qzsuspending the pipe above thepipesline ditcm; This-invention is a continuation in part xof applicants co-pending application filed the=24th day-oi? February, 1948 and entitled, Di' ive Mechanism? underrSerial No 10;521' now aban donedi v e In the: present 'day pipeline construction and I particularly wherethe'pipe is cleaned; coatedand" wrapped prior to disposition ina =-pipe-= l1'ne ditch it i is": necessaryto: suspend the pipe above the" order to permit travelof "the claning; coatingand wrapping apparatus along the pipe:- Pipecline cradles have been utilized for this-purpose and the-wonventibnal cradls today are-'- provided with steel crawler "wheels engaging the" under--' side of the pipe;- while' the-"- cradle arms" are held-by a' hoisting mechanism, such as--theline? 'l'he -reaction of forces between" the cradle? wheels and* the weight of pipe -line"= issuch to cause =the-"stee1 -whee1s-to-'-ir1dent and-flatten" the 1 pipe line -along the underneath surface; there-{- by increasing the possibility of injury: This "is 25 dle in such a" manner --to permit movement" of. 3m

the-cradle along thesunderneath sid ot the pipe without injury to the pipe.

It is an important object of .this inventi'on to provide z-i-a zffiction: drive -belt. for: use with pipe lines cnadlesls in order: to: effect a: positive: and? 35 noneslippingsengagement of-ithe cradlezswlthiithe piperlinem v I Another Irobj'ect" of ithisvirwention is'itoeprovide annendless sfriction'xb'elt for a apipe line cradle reintdncing' gwires sin-1ordemtonpnevent zeiongation i ofzz thee-materials (innings operation: iOfiJ the cradle alongztheliriex.

Aindustiil-:anotherrobjecttofi:this invention-v1 r to provide a flexible traction drive for pipe line-1 4st cradles res wherein: the: pipe-e engagingsz element of thee cnadlee substantially? coniorlmsr to thee conetour-10f :the pipe;

Qtherrobfiects andadvantageszot ithetinventions Willa-be eviderttdr'omrthe follo vi-ng detailed (flee-4Q, V p

' tegraL; with. aapair of? inwardly; convergin leg-i;

scriptiomreadim,con-J'1:1ncticn-. with the zaccomr,

panying dnawingsnwhich. illustrate 'my;-ir-wentiom;

In, thevdrawingss V Figure. 1 is; .aside-I, elevationaiofn the ,inventions h9W -lY Fb%@P I. .2

dlesmemberc'comprisingg as frame: 4:015 sub'stan 6 Claims;v (Cl. 2941-67) Flgprerfl is a .front .017; 'endv,:.elevation thereoti figure-:3 .2 israztopgt-p1an1,viewwitmcertain .e'lee mentssomitted szfor claritw- Figure-7451s:anmelevationalsview oft-lthe'spulleyy drive ibelitx Figureeil is;at:sectional.zviewr'thereof;l Rt'eferrin'g;:to.the drawings in :detaihrefenencee characterr:2xindicatessgenerallyr a pipezline icra tially"rectangularrshape :assis' clearlyyshownw 7.: Eiguree3; Aapairz'of fspacedushaftsafiziami' Sear supported 1 transversely7: in: thee Sidfliichannels oi; therframe zmemberi :and held theretosbm sm able-collars: 1- andz? 9.1 Loosely: fitting-i-tbearin members 10;. I I; I'Ziandi; I 3?. are providedmonithe shafts .6 and 82 The shearing; memberszt are in tegraliwithzinner framexmembers s: Ileana-1' willith-usz be :-apparent that zthe: shaft: 6 and I through'ithesmedium ofrfthe bearings; sub's'tan tially supportsnthe aframesr I 4 and I 5 withtrr the ffame 4: Due to =th'e loosesfi tz' of whee-bearings; the "frames a: I 4 and I 5" are permitted1 -toslightly rock or piV0tOII,t11==S1'laffiS=6 and; .1 Theeouteri" frame t-Q isr: furtherwprovidedr with w inwardly: exsstending brackets I6 cooperating with theflatness I4 and I5 in order to additionally support the frames I4 and I5 within -the outer frame 4. Whi1e,Figure,I3 shows .a.,dua1,application of the drive b'elts for: the: cradle 2; it will be apparcut that a v single application" could be utilized? For purposes of 'exemplifioation the: duplicate elements Lol':'the;drive;be1ts in-the pair-of "ffames I 4 4 and, I 5 will I be numbered identically. i 1

Eachlwof the frames l4 ,and I51 are iprovidedi with a: pair;ofitransversezshafts 1 I1 and," I 8 ext tending; between the ,side channels I9 thereofifv The. shafts are fixeditosthe' channels I9 b'yvanyg suitable securing, members 26'. As clearlyshbwn: in ,Figure 1;. the Y, frame 4,1 t at 1 aalloint' adjacent; thejlarge shafts; 6;andn8; ,is .provided with .up standing, brackets 2.! 1 and" 22 i hayingj; apertures; 23; v The. brackets are. disposed", on eachlssides, channel 24 oi? the frame; 4,, and the: apertures; 2 3 are; adapted; to receive ring,, members 2 5111+;-

members- 26H, ands 21, in. .I turn secured; through; ring vmembers/.28 i and; .29 with, I acable. 3.0 (of La; tractor; boom; or, the like (not shown);

5s clearly shown.ins,Figiuzesdt andg2. .a pair oisjca .bles are provided on each side of the cradle 2 extending upwardly from the brackets 2| and 22. The shafts l1 and [8 in each frame l4 and I5 are each provided with a freely rotatable pulley member 3|. The pulley member as shown in elevation in Figure 4 comprises a cylindrical body portion 32 having a plurality of transver'sely arranged alternate notches 33 and ribs 34 for a purpose as will be hereinafter setforth. The body portion 32 is provided with circular flanges 35 at opposite ends thereof, and extending outwardly from the body 32.

An endless drive belt 38, as clearly shown in Figures 6, '7 and 8, is provided on its inner periphery with a plurality of transversely arranged alternate ribs or teeth 39 and notches 40 adapted to cooperate with the notches and teeth respec-.- tively of a gear pulley 32. It will be apparent that each of the shafts I'Land 18 for each frame are provided with drive pulleys 32, and an endless drive belt 38 engages a pair of pulleys 32 in such a manner that the teeth 39 of the belt 38 will engage the notches 33 of the pulley, simultaneously with the teeth 34 of thepulley'engaging the notches 40 of the inner 'drive belt 38. The drive belt is of a flexible material preferfrictional' efiiciency. As clearly shown inF'igure 7, an outer tread belt 4| is adapted to cooperatewith the inner belt 38. The belt 4| is of the endless type preferably of molded rubber similar to the belt 38 and is adapted to engage the outer surface of the inner drive belt 38. The inner periphery 42 of the belt 4| is a smooth surface, but frictionally engages the outer surface 43 of the belt 38. The frictional engagement between the belt surfaces will cause movement of the belt 4| simultaneous with the belt 38. The outer face of the drive belt 4| is formedwith a concave surface or groove 45, as clearly shown in Figures 7 and 8. Furthermore, both belts 38 and 4| are preferably reinforced with steel Wires 44 embedded in the molded rubber in order to preclude any elongation or stretching of the belts,

thereby eliminating adjustment of the belts on,

the-pulleys 32. It will be apparent that the molded rubber provides a flexible, slipless and noiseless drive belt. The flexible belts 38 and 4| are prevented from transverse movement on the gear pulleys 32 by the circular flanges 35 at the opposite sides of the pulleys 32.

Operation The cradle member 2 in assembled relation with the drive belts 38, as shown in Figures 1 simultaneously with the tractor (not shown) along 'thesuspended pipe. The concave groove 45 of the belt 4| conforms to the outer periphery or con tour of the pipe to assist inmaintaining'the frictional engagement of the belts with the pipejto provide the non-slipping drive connection. for the cradle member 2. It will be apparent as the tractor moves along the drive and tread belts are rotated on the pulley gears 32 to permit the ably a molded rubber and characterized by a high cradle member 2 and the supporting frame members 4, l4 and IE to simultaneously travel along the pipe.

It will be apparent that the cradle mechanism is not limited to any particular number of drive belts, and one or more may be utilized, as desired. Furthermore, the loose fit of the bearings for the inner frames 4 and I5 relative to the shaft 6 permits a pivoting or rocking action of the frames, as well as the pulleys 3|, thereby assisting the concave groove 45 of the outer tread belts .to. provide a better frictional engagement with the under surface of the pipe. This is particularly advantageous due to any slight inclination of the pipe with the horizontal. The apparatus is not limited to the use of two drive belts, such as the sectional belts shown, but may utilize a unitary belt, such as shown in Figure 6 wherein the outer surface thereof will have direct engagement with the pipe. The outer tread belt 4| is preferably utilized to permit replacement thereof due to wear and tear without necessarily replacing the inner drive belt 38, which obviously will not wear as rapidly as the pipe engaging tread belt 4|. 1

From the foregoing it will be apparent that thepresent invention provides a drive mechanism for pipe line cradles effecting a positive andefficient movement of the cradle without any of the detriments normally prevailing due to engagement of steel crawler wheels with the pipe. Particularly the flexible rubber traction belts provide a positive non-slipping drive for moving the cradle along the underneath surface of the pipe without any digging in or distortion of the pipe surface. such distortion or indentation would have a tendency to weaken the pipe under extreme high pressures, thus giving rise to the possibility of rupture. The endless traction belts conform to the contour of the pipe in order to provide a more positive and efficient traction therewith. Furthermore, the belts are reinforced with any suitable reniforced element, such as steel wires, or the like, to prevent stretching or elonga tion of the belt during its movement around the 7 drawings without departing from the spirit of V the invention within the scope of the following claims, as set forth. r

What I claim is:

1. In a cradle apparatus utilized for the suspension of pipe lines and adapted to be propelled therealong, and comprising an outer frame, a shaft carried by the frame, an inner frame pivotably supported on the shaft, a pair of rotatable pulleys carried by the inner frame, a flexible endless drive belt interconnecting the pulleys, said belt having a groove substantially conforming to' the contour of the pipe for engagement with the underneath surface thereof to facilitate movement of the cradle longitudinally along the pipe.

2. In a cradle apparatus utilized for the suspension of pipe lines and adapted to be propelled therealong, and comprising an outer frame, a shaft carried by the frame, an inner frame pivotably supported on the shaft, a pair of spaced rotatable shafts carried by the inner frame, a pulley carried by'the shafts, a resilient endless drive belt interconnecting the pulleys and adapted to engage the underneath surface of p the pipe, means providing a positive engagement 5 between the drive belt and the pulleys to permit movement of the cradle longitudinally along the shaft.

3. In a cradle apparatus utilized for the suspension of pipe lines and adapted to be propelled therealong comprising an outer frame, a plurality of shafts carried by the frame, an inner frame member supported on each of. the shafts, a pair of rotatable shafts carried by the inner frame members, flanged pulleys carried by the rotatable shafts, a rubber drive belt interconnecting the pulleys and adapted to engage the underneath surface of the pipe to assist movement of the cradle longitudinally therealong without any distortion to the pipe surface.

4. In a cradle apparatus utilized for the suspension of pipe lines and adapted to be propelled therealong comprising an outer frame, a plurality of fixed shafts carried'by the frame, an

inner frame member pivotably supported on 1 each of the shafts, rotatable pulleys carried by the inner frame members, a resilient endless drive belt interconnecting the pulleys and adapted to engage the underneath surface of the pipe to cause movement of the cradle longitudinally therealong.

5. In a cradle apparatus utilized in pipe lines and adapted to travel therealong comprising a frame, a pair of rotatable flanged pulleys carried by the frame, a resilient drive belt interconnecting between the pulleys, means provid- 6 ing a positive engagement between the pulleys of the endless belt, a tread belt disposed on the drive belt and engaging the pipe, said drive belt and tread belt permitting travel of the cradle along the pipe without any injury or distortion thereto.

6. In a pipe line cradle device utilized for suspension of pipe lines and adapted to travel longitudinally therealong and comprising a frame, a pair of rotatable pulley gears carried by the frame, an endless resilient drive belt interconnecting the pulleys, means providing a substantially positive engagement between the belt and the pulleys, a tread belt disposed on the drive belt and adapted to engage the underneath surface of the pipe, an arcuate groove in the tread belt conforming to the contour of the pipe to assist the frictional engagement of the cradle with the pipe.

LEWIS PERRAULT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent: V

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 405,994- Espenschied June 25, 1889 1,866,381 Ward July 5, 1932 2,077,188 Rishel April 13, 1937 2,228,034 Nelles Jan. 7, 1941 

